LATROBE, PA – Saint Vincent College is pleased to announce its 2025 Alumni of Distinction in recognition of their exemplary service to the College, community and country in areas such as professional achievement, church involvement, community service, humanitarian efforts and personal/family accomplishments.
This year’s honorees are Dr. Thomas Antos, C’65; Cheryl Harper, C’88, G’08; James Ryan, C’70; Gordon Scherer, C’65; and Thomas Will, C’65.
The Alumni of Distinction will be honored October 3, at the Fred M. Rogers Center on campus as part of Homecoming weekend.
Dr. Thomas J. Antos graduated from Saint Vincent College in 1965 with a degree in biology and earned his MD from Hahnemann Medical College in 1969. He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Mercy Hospital in Pittsburgh, where he went on to serve as chief of the Division of Internal Medicine and Senior Active Staff. In addition to a distinguished medical career, Dr. Antos held academic appointments at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and UPMC Presbyterian, where he served as a clinical assistant professor of medicine and honorary/emeritus staff. He supervised house staff physicians and mentored students and residents in both inpatient and outpatient settings. A US Army Reserves Medical Corps veteran, Dr. Antos achieved the rank of captain during his service from 1969 to 1977. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and has been an active member of several professional organizations, including the American Geriatric Society and the Allegheny County Medical Society, where he served on the Board of Directors. Dr. Antos has combined his medical expertise with a deep commitment to service, volunteering with the Catholic Charities Free Health Care Center since 2009. He has received honors including “Volunteer of the Year” at The Neighborhood Academy and has been named one of Pittsburgh’s Top Doctors. Dr. Antos credits Saint Vincent with laying the foundation for his professional journey and personal values. He and his wife, Patricia, have been married for 59 years and have four daughters and eleven grandchildren.
Cheryl A. Harper is an award-winning physics educator and STEM advocate who has spent over three decades teaching at Greensburg Salem High School. A 1988 Saint Vincent College graduate with a double major in physics and mathematics, she returned to SVC to earn a master’s in curriculum and instruction in 2008. She is known for her creative, compassionate teaching style and her commitment to building inclusive, hands-on science education. Cheryl has taught a wide range of advanced physics courses, including AP Physics 1 and 2, Honors Modern Physics, Astrophysics, and Kennametal Young Engineers. She serves as board chair of the Contemporary Physics Education Project, where she develops curriculum materials and leads national teacher-training workshops. She has also worked as a teacher fellow at Saint Vincent and currently serves on the Advisory Council for the Herbert W. Boyer School of Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Computing. Her achievements include the Greensburg Salem Great Teacher Award, the Keivin Burns Award for Excellence in the Teaching of Science and recognition from the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. She has secured numerous grants to enhance classroom learning and continues to publish and present on physics education nationally. A passionate mentor, Cheryl advises the National Honor Society at Greensburg Salem and helped launch GS Threads, a no-cost thrift store for students and families. Her approach to education reflects her belief that every student has potential waiting to be unlocked. Cheryl and her husband, Rick, are proud parents of two adult children: Thomas, a geophysicist, and Jessica, a professional athlete, physical therapist, and Saint Vincent alumna. For Cheryl, teaching is more than a career: it’s a calling to inspire growth, curiosity and kindness.
James B. Ryan is a retired manufacturing executive, Broadway producer, and longtime community leader. After earning a degree in economics from Saint Vincent College in 1970, Jim co-founded Windfall Products, Inc., a manufacturing firm that became the largest supplier of powdered metal components to General Motors. Under his leadership, the company expanded to four plants, reaching $80 million in revenue and national industry recognition. In 2001, Jim joined two of his cousins in founding The Araca Group, a Broadway production company. As an associate producer, he has helped bring more than 30 productions to life on Broadway and internationally, including “Wicked,” “Urinetown” and “The Outsiders.” Jim has also served on the boards of several organizations, including CNB Financial Corporation, where he was a director for nearly two decades. His civic involvement spans healthcare, education, economic development and youth programming, including leadership roles with Penn Highlands Health, the Elk County Community Foundation and the Bucktail Council of the Boy Scouts of America. A passionate cyclist for more than 40 years, Jim has competed in regional races and still rides between 4,000–5,000 miles annually. Since 2000, he and his wife, Eileen, have taken 20 tandem cycling tours through Santana Adventures, biking through destinations like the Danube, the Mekong, the Columbia and Snake Rivers, and across countries including Japan, Australia, Norway and the Baltics. Jim credits Saint Vincent with giving him the confidence to pursue entrepreneurial risk and to overcome fear of failure. He and Eileen, who met during an SVC football game, have been married for 55 years and continue to support charitable efforts through their family foundation.
Gordon E. Scherer is a certified public accountant with over four decades of experience in public accounting and financial leadership. After earning his degree from Saint Vincent College in 1965, he spent 42 years in the field, rising to managing partner at a regional public accounting firm in Pittsburgh. Upon retiring from public accounting, he became chief financial officer of a multinational telecommunications company providing audio, video and internet conferencing services. A leader in his profession, Gordon served as president of both the Pennsylvania Institute of CPAs and the organization’s Pittsburgh chapter. He held multiple committee leadership roles, frequently presented at professional conferences and was an active member of the governing council of the American Institute of CPAs (AICPA). His national service includes adjudicating matters of professional conduct as part of the AICPA’s Joint Trial Board and advocating for small firms as part of the Technical Issues Committee and the Private Companies Practice Section Executive Committee. He also served on the board of CPA Associates International, a global association of independent CPA firms. In addition to his professional work, Gordon taught as an adjunct professor at both the Community College of Allegheny County and Penn State. He has also served his parish community as a lector and president of the parish council at North American Martyrs in Monroeville. Gordon and his wife, Jo Anne, recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary. They have three children and two grandchildren, with whom they enjoy spending time.
Thomas E. Will graduated from Saint Vincent College in 1965 with a degree in economics. He began his career with General Foods Corporation in Washington, DC, eventually advancing to national sales planning at the company’s headquarters in White Plains, New York. He later held managerial roles in Atlanta and Kansas City before being recruited by The Clorox Company in 1973. At Clorox, he served as western zone manager and was promoted to national sales planning manager. In 1977, Tom accepted a position as director of new business development at Borden Foods in Columbus, Ohio. After more than a decade in corporate leadership, he co-founded The Ram Group in 1980, which is a national sales and marketing consulting firm. As president and managing partner, he built the company to 35 employees across six regional offices, serving major clients including Hershey, Scotts Miracle-Gro, White Castle, Warner-Lambert and ConAgra Foods. Tom retired in 2011 after more than 45 years in the consumer products industry. He and his wife, Kathy, split their time between Columbus and their winter home in Fort Myers. They have three adult children and nine grandchildren. Tom credits Saint Vincent with instilling values that guided his personal and professional life. He recalls formative moments from his student years, including the aftermath of a campus fire and the collective mourning following President Kennedy’s assassination. He especially cherishes the mentorship of Fr. Armand-Jean Baldwin, O.S.B., P'35, C'40, S'44, and the lifelong friendship he shared with fellow Bearcat, Austin Noll, C'65. Tom returns to SVC regularly for retreats and reunions—where, as he says, “the special feeling of returning never ends.”
